Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (4 letters)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks about the Ukraine crisis after his meetings with other foreign ministers in Paris on Wednesday. Russia is unlikely to pull back its military forces in Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, analysts and former Obama administration officials say. (Kevin Lamarque, The Associated Press)

Recent Ukraine news coverage reminds me how much control the media have in framing the nature of an actual debacle. It has barely been a year since politicians were slinging mud at each other, to the point of shutting down our government. Major television and radio media have once again chosen to travel the low road, providing political parties venues for slinging mud at one another.

Vladimir Putin counted on the media to distract the public’s focus from the crisis toward more mundane, party-serving purposes. He was not disappointed. Within days, political pundits were provided with hands-free mics, leaving their hands free for finger-pointing.

I encourage The Post to stay on the high road: Do not use my precious newspaper dollars to frame the current Ukraine crises, or any other, for that matter, as a political party problem. Let politicians find other, more positive ways (like problem-solving) to gain publicity.

Karen Marshall Gershanov, Colorado Springs

This letter was published in the March 6 edition.

What hypocrites U.S. political leaders, the media, and many other citizens are to condemn the Russian takeover of the Crimean peninsula and the possibility of further Russian military action against more of the Ukraine. These are the same Americans who cheered the unjustified, illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq by the U.S. 11 years ago. All people everywhere should condemn and oppose the unjustified, illegal and immoral attack of one nation against another, but too many Americans are eager to justify and cheer such action by our nation and just as eager to condemn such action by another nation.

Thomas M. Rauch, Denver

This letter was published in the March 6 edition.

Was anyone really surprised that the president of Russia paid no attention at all to the warning given him by the president of the United States? Why should Vladimir Putin be any different from Bashar Assad in Syria, who paid no attention to the red line in the sand, or the mullahs of Iran?

William Hinckley, Highlands Ranch

This letter was published in the March 6 edition.

In 1936, the Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany. In 1938, Germany occupied a portion of Czechoslovakia known as Sudetenland, which contained a large number of German-speaking Czech citizens.

In 2014, the Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia. Shortly thereafter, Russia occupied a portion of Ukraine known as Crimea, which contains a large number of Russian speaking Ukrainians.

The primary difference in these two invasions was that the German chancellor obtained permission from several European leaders (with the exception of Czechoslovakia itself) for his aggression in order to avoid a wider war. A few months later, Germany invaded the rest of the Czech portion of the country with little to no opposition.

Eastern Ukraine also has a large contingent of Russian-speaking citizens. Will the Russian president decide to occupy much of the rest of Ukraine to protect its Russian-speaking citizens? What will be the response from the rest of the world to this repeat of naked aggression?

Allen Pfenning, Littleton

This letter was published online only.

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“In 1936, the Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany. In 1938, Germany occupied a portion of Czechoslovakia known as Sudetenland, which contained a large number of German-speaking Czech citizens.

“In 2014, the Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia. Shortly thereafter, Russia occupied a portion of Ukraine known as Crimea, which contains a large number of Russian speaking Ukrainians.”

===

And in 1984, the Olympics were held in Los Angeles. That same year, an earthquake centered near Morgan Hill, Calif., rocked much of California, which contained a large number of ohmigawd-speaking Valley girls. [edit.]

Think about it.

peterpi

Well, … I do wonder whether all those troops who provided security in Sochi, after the Olympics were over, decided to do a little more securing.

primafacie

Indeed, in all seriousness, it does appear Putin had his troops in a rather convenient location.

toohip

Then he had them remove their stinking badges!

Robtf777

“And in 1980, the Olympics were held in Los Angeles. In 1983, an
earthquake centered near Coalinga, Calif., rocked much of California,
which contained a large number of ohmigawd-speaking Valley girls.

Think about it.”
==============
What’s there to think about…..really? That your…..insight…..is questionable?

peterpi

If you don’t get prima’s point, you’re hopeless.

Dave52

I believe its pronounced ohmiGAWD.

/perfectionist

toohip

Then there was Benghazi, IRS, Kenya. . .where does it all end?

GenePH

Well, Denver Post, you have been duly warned by Ms. Karen Marshall Gershanov, (is that a Russian name?) whatever you do, do not make the Obama administration look bad in this insignificant little crisis. Just a minor invasion of another country.

Obama can make himself look bad. All by himself. (38% approve !!!!)
—————————————————————————————
I will restate Ms. Gershanov’s money line; . . “I encourage The Post to stay on the high road: Do not use my precious newspaper dollars to frame the current Ukraine crises, or any other, for that matter, as a political party problem.”. . . She is not asking what should be done. She is not interested in your solutions for that area of the world. She does not want political parties in this country to argue. That is all she is requesting of The Denver Post. What is so hard to understand?

What is wrong with arguing? Finger pointing, as she calls it. Is Ms. Gershanov a Russian and not understanding of how democracy works in the United States of America? We love to argue, and finger point. I think she trying to be protective of the hapless Obama side, like all good liberal media. That is all.

Okay. Okay. Here is my advice; “Bend Your Knees So You Don’t Faint.”

—————————————————————————————

Pilgrim

What do you think we ought to do Gene? You want to pick a fight with Russia in their front yard? Economic and diplomatic sanctions are about all we can do at this point and even that is touchy. Europe is scared to go too far because Russia has them by the throat with energy exports. It’s really just another opportunity to knock the guy in office that you despise. If not, then let’s hear your ideas.

peterpi

Bravo!!!

Robtf777

“What do you think we ought to do Gene? You want to pick a fight with
Russia in their front yard? Economic and diplomatic sanctions are about
all we can do at this point and even that is touchy. Europe is scared
to go too far because Russia has them by the throat with energy exports.
It’s really just another opportunity to knock the guy in office that
you despise. If not, then let’s hear your ideas.”
============
Pilgrim…..I agree with your assessment……which actually identifies the problem:

Obama can’t possibly follow through on his “threats”……which makes them “empty threats”…….which completely undermines any credibility he may still have……in this country and around the world…….which Putin is taking advantage of.

Putin……and much of the world…….now KNOWS that Obama “speaks loudly……but carries a wet noodle”……..and that it is Putin and Russia……and Putin and Russia ONLY……that determines how far the Ukraine Experience will go.

UNLESS……to “save face”…..it is now Obama who takes some drastic action.

peterpi

What should Obama do?
What makes you think that what a foreign leader does is the fault of the US president?

I’d hazard a guess that the sentiment for U.S. military involvement at about as close to zero as is imaginable, if not below zero. What else you got?

Now, I’m as big an Obama critic as you’ll find, and no question Putin has thumbed his nose at the president on this one. But now we’ll find out just what he meant about “costs.”

peterpi

Bravo!!! To your opening paragraph.

goodspk@aol.com

Did you see what Tom Friedman suggested? He said we should institute a carbon tax to teach Putin a lesson.

Robtf777

“Well, Denver Post, you have been duly warned by Ms. Karen Marshall
Gershanov, (is that a Russian name?) whatever you do, do not make the
Obama administration look bad in this insignificant little crisis. Just a
minor invasion of another country”
============
Actually……I thought her Letter was…..incoherent the first time I read through it…….and after reading your comment and re-reading it three more times……I STILL find it incoherent.

So I haven’t a clue how you got that from her Letter…..because I didn’t…..and can’t.

holyreality

Sarcasm dude, she made perfect sense. News is no longer journalism as much as entertainment for profit, Americans gullibly buy the propaganda as gospel and proceed from there.

peterpi

What if she or her husband are of Russian ancestry?
So, what?
Does the First Amendment no longer apply?

Oooh, Mr. Pfenning has a German last name!!!

Dano2

You really haven’t a clue what to do over there, do you? I mean, besides what a few discredited shills tell you.

You know what to do here, though: harrrrrrrrrrrrumph! Obummer’s name at every opportuni-tea. We can see the (old) members of that small crowd coming a kilometer away,

Best,

D

goodspk@aol.com

So tell us DTJ? What would you do?

Dano2

Nothing different. Plus the same as what happened in Georgia under BushCo.

Best,

D

goodspk@aol.com

So you would threaten Russia with “there will be consequences?” LOLz. I’m sure Putin is shaking in his shoes over that one.

Dano2

Did you flap your tiny hands and have to change your Depends when Gee Dubya did the same thing in Georgia? How sad you didn’t have a wargasm there either.

Best,

D

goodspk@aol.com

“minutes after Mr. Bush’s comments, President Mikheil Saakashviliof Georgia characterized the import of the American aid as “definitely an American military presence” (American military was delivering the aid vs normal civilian agencies doing it) and called it a “turning point.”

Obama is using the Obama doctrine (speak loudly and tell everyone you might have a small stick). How sad you don’t have a clue.

toohip

Sounds like Gene is on the Issa team to try and pin another conspiracy on Obama? Another dog that doesn’t hunt.

peterpi

If there is a US failure, it is that — once again — our intelligence agencies were caught flat-footed.
They know how many times a week I phone Jimmy John’s, they know how many mistresses the French prime minister has.
But, time and time again, under both Democratic and Republican presidents, they don’t have a clue.

toohip

You sound a little paranoid about gubmint? Where did the intelligence fail? Seemed pretty obvious, Ukranians revolt against their corrupt, pro-Russian leader, drive him from power right to the Russians, set up an interim gov’t, and the Russians who invaded George and Bush didn’t get blamed for not doing anything, and the ruskies who have a base in Crimea ferry over more troops in unidentified uniforms as protection for “ethnic” Russians (what’s an “ethnic Russian?), and some how we failed to .. do what about this pretty obvious scenario. One thing McCain is right about is Putin is a ex-KGB, and should we be surprised with his reaction? Meanwhile Russian journalists are turning on Putin.

holyreality

Perhaps Putin sent his mercenaries(ahem, Private Security) to Crimea to prevent anti Russian mobs from running havoc.
Tank exercises timed across the border certainly discourages any bad moves from a possible Crimean takeover by anti Russian Ukraine neo-not-see forces or their “allies”(American neocons)
It is easy to buy the story our “News” spoonfeeds us and devote some hate to Putin(see the pre-Olympic “coverage”) Americans love the easy good guy in white hats narrative, and Pooty Poot makes that black hat look sooooooo………masculine!

goodspk@aol.com

I hate to agree with you, but all of our intelligence agencies were caught flat-footed on this one.

toohip

So. . . what was the intelligence agencies supposed to “predict?” That the ruskies would invade the Ukraine, after the corrupt president fled to Russia after the protests? Who would of predicted the invasion of Crimea?

goodspk@aol.com

That’s what intelligence is supposed to do and why we spend so much money pursuing it.

I think intelligence is geared to factual evidence of what’s already happened rather than predictors of what will happen, unless it’s a threat to the U.S. SO. . . what how do you know (for a fact, or is this another right wing conspiracy belief?”). . . what the intelligence agencies knew, if it’s it’s supposed to be secret? Did you expect them to publish it to Fox News?
Looking for conspiracies in all the wrong places. . . sing it with me!

Robtf777

“In 1936, the Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany. In 1938, Germany
occupied a portion of Czechoslovakia known as Sudetenland, which
contained a large number of German-speaking Czech citizens.

In 2014, the Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia. Shortly thereafter,
Russia occupied a portion of Ukraine known as Crimea, which contains a
large number of Russian speaking Ukrainians.”
==============
I myself offered a similar analogy……..but one that was only half “right”……because the “rest of the truth” is that……as another Letter Writer above pointed out…….the United States has done similar things for similar reasons.

Or did we forget about Panama……..and blaring the loud music at Noriega?

And did we forget about Grenada…….and the American University Students President Reagan sent the US Military in to “protect”?

Iraq One? Iraq Two? Afghan?

How about the use of armed drones in……Pakistan?

How about the deliberate targeting of an American Citizen who was not even convicted “in absentia” and sentenced to death……but who was nonetheless targeted and executed in another country by the use of a drone?

We can point fingers and claim that we had the “approval” of the “international community” in…..SOME……and ONLY some of those……actions…….but the fact is that “we” deem the United States the “good guy” and that “we” can do no wrong………and the Soviet Union/Russia is the “bad guy” who can do no right………

…………..when many people around the world see……not black and white……but only differing shades of gray……..especially when it came to Obama’s initial desire involving Syria.

holyreality

Bravo!

Clap clap clap clap

Until the last line, President Obama had as much “desire” to bomb Syria as you or I. It was his handlers in the war industry that wanted to bomb Syria.

The Syrian bombing was not about punishing Assad for his alleged chemical “attack” as it was about Israel/Saudi interests in weakening Iranian interests in a big geopolitical chessgame with high stakes.

Putin pulled our fat from the fire there and I’m fully with him in his Crimean protection response to the American coup of Ukraine. Some greys are darker than others, and the neocon gambit in Ukraine is as dark as it gets.

Problem here is, we have no moral authority – we’ve done enough invasions in the past several decades to ensure that. And our companies are slowly taking over Ukranian business, so what’s to think we’re good actors?

Best,

D

holyreality

” And our companies are slowly taking over Ukranian business, so what’s to think we’re good actors?”http://consortiumnews.com/2014/03/04/americas-staggering-hypocrisy/
BINGO! American backing to the Ukrainian unrest brought a peaceful protest another step into violent uprising/coup of their democaratically elected President, and it was neo-not-see extremists who instigated the violence. Of the questionable number of deaths, no news source is telling us that some of those were cops and NOBODY is saying it was American backed neo-not-sees who began the violence.

All we ever see on the evening news is Russia INVADES Ukraine!!! Be AFRAID!!!

toohip

“It’s Obama’s fault!” another phony opportunity for all the Republican pundits and phony leaders like McCain and Graham to try and blame something happening world’s away, on Obama. Mean time whacko conspiracy theorist leader, Darryl Issa, tries to continue the IRS conspiracy, by controlling another hearing.finally p-ssing off a Democrat who had had enough, and told it like it is.

When are more people going to have enough of this witch hunt on Obama, and say enough?! The Fourth Estate has been a total failure, and only interested in more drama and conspiracy, and the Republicans are providing this to complete the total waste of the people’s time. Karen Gershanov is spot on, stop making everything political, and let’s get back to nation of unity.

goodspk@aol.com

Actually the guy in charge should probably shoulder the blame, don’t you think? I know you do if that guy is a Republican.

toohip

Not really. . I don’t “roll” that way. Even with intel reports of “Al Quaida to fly planes into buildings, and taking flight lessons without learning how to land” . . I didn’t blame the president for 9/11. You?

So what ever happens in the world while the black guy is in charge, he’s to blame? yeah. We “get” it! Fail.

holyreality

And if President Obama deploys ANYTHING, he will be condemned for using a distraction to cover for his “failure of Obamacare”.

This flow chart demonstrates the sole GOP tactic he is either a dictator or a wimp with a kick me sign slapped on his back.

Glenn Beck just said he fears for the “Republic” like we need a coup or something. I may have viewed Duhbya through the same lens, at least I recognized he would be termed out. The pernicious takeover of our government owns both parties, I’m just glad POTUS Mittens(AKA President Neidermeyer) does not have us diving for the nearest obsolete fallout shelters.

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